Motor fuel and process of making same



Patented Nov. 20, 1928.

LESTER KIRSCHBRAUN,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MOTOR FUEL AND PROCESS OF MAKING SAME.

No Drawing. Application filed November 19, 1919, Serial No 339,161.Renewed Kay 12, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in motor fuels and process ofmaking same and refers more particularly to a product and process ofmaking same which consists primarily of an emulsion of a volatilehydrocarbon such as gasoline or kerosene and water.

It is Well known to those skilled in the art that the addition of acertain percentage of water to gasoline tends to reduce carbon in thecylinders and makesa more satisfactory explosion. Difficulty, however,has been experienced in properly dispersing the water in the gasoline.'Mechanical devices for introducing the water into the carburetor, forexample, have been tried but with relatively little success. If,however, the water could be sufiiciently and evenly dispersed throughthe gasoline, a relatively large amount of water could be usedadvantageously.

It is, of course, also necessary that a relatively permanent emulsion beformed between the gasoline and the Water. It is also desirable that thewater should become volatile in the carburetor uniformly with thegasoline. I r

In order to make an emulsion between the gasoline and water, nanemulsifying agent should be used, which emulsifyin agent should be bothvolatile and COIIlfillStlblBQ Such an emulsifying agent might, forexample, be a mixture of phenol and ammonia. Another emulsifying agentthat might be used is naphthenic acid, preferably used with ammonia. Theamount of 'water may be varied within relatively large limits, from afew per cent to as high as might perhaps be used. Th1s emulsion might beformed as follows:

The emulsifying.- agent and a small percent' of phenol are dissolved inthe gasoline. To this is added water which has been made slightlyammoniacal. The percentage ofwater added will vary as above stated.' Theabove ingredients should be thoroughly mixed until a satisfactoryemulsion has been formed in which the water is in the dispersed phaseand the gasoline in the continuous phase.

In order to prepare the emulsion in such a manner as to make it mostadaptable for the homogenizing operation and in order to produce it inthemost permanent form, it is necessary to cause thewater particles toassume the most minute state possible.

After the above mixture has been formed, it may then be forced through ahomo enizer under very high pressure. ThlS operation will tend to makethe emulsion permanent, and also cause it to; volatilize in thecarburetor in such a manner that a uniform proportion of water andhydrocarbon vapor will be continuously introduced into the combustionchamber. It is, of course, necessary to maintain the proportions ofwater and gasoline such that,

at all times, there will not be so much moisture present as to precludethe production of an explosive mixture. Upon the explosion of thegasoline, the water of course will form steam:

It may be possible in certain cases to dis- I 'pense with thehomogenizing operation.

I have mentioned above certain emulsifying agents but of course, theremay be others. It. is to be noted, of course, that the emulsifying agentshould be volatile, andmust be of such a nature so as not to leave asubstance which is gumm which may injure the carburetor or cylinders.

In making a hydrocarbon emulsion with naphthenic acid as an emulsifyingagent, 50 c. c. of naphthenic acid are added to 50 c. c. of gasoline orsimilar light distillates. This mixture is thoroughly agitated until thenaphthenic acid is dissolved as much as possible 'in the oil. Waterwhich is slightly ammon'iacal is added, preferably from a droppingfunnel or a burrette in small proportions, not to exceed 5 c. c. at atime, and slower as the emulsion thickens. During the addition of thewater, the mixture of naphthenic acid and hydrocarbon oil is vigorouslystirred and kept agitated to disperse the water through the mass. As theemulsion thickens, the amount of water added is continuously decreased,as it is es sential that the water be thoroughly incorporated, and notbe in a free state in the emulsion.

This procedure is continued until the proper percentage of water hasbeen incorporated in the emulsion. When the emulsion has been made, itmay be thinned back, or cut back with the light hydrocarbon oil, such asthat used in the original mixture, or with other oils in which theemulsion is miscible.

Extreme care must be used in adding the water as an ,execess of water atany time ma produce a reversal of the phases of the emu the dispersedor'the internal ph sion. In order to', out back the emulsion.

with oil, it is essential that thejgatetbe in e A more satisfactoryemulsion can be made by homogenizing the emulsion produced, thuseifecting a finer-dispersion of the Water particles than can be producedby the mechanical mixing I claim as my-invention:

1. A fuel for internal combustion engines consisting of'a homogenizedemulsified mixture of a volatile hydrocarbon oil having substantiallythe-characteristics of gasoline,

water and an or 'tui'e as an ,emulsi ed agent, the Water being inithedispersed" tinuous p ase. I

2. A fuel for internal combustion engines, consistin of an emulsifiedmixture of a volatile ydrocarbon tiallythe characteristics of gasoline,Water and an organic acid ammonia mixture as an emulsifying agent, thewater being in the dispersed phase and the oil in the continuous phase.

' LESTER KIBSQHBRAUN.

anic acid ammonia mi'xoil having substam.

15 base and the oil in the cen--

